Storage

06/07/2017

Microsoft's File History in Windows 8 gave you a "sort of" Apple Time Machine style backup that would let you recover a previous version of a file if you screwed up. In Windows 10, File History was updated so that it backs up more locations automatically, which can be almost totally configured through the Setting app. However, like so many operating system features, File History is not enabled by default. It's probably not enabled because it can eat up a lot of disk space quickly.

Today, you can configure File History to work with OneDrive and backup files to the cloud. Windows guru Paul Thurrott tells his theory as to why this feature is no longer supported by Microsoft. He stated that "…previous versions are device-specific and will be re-created on any PC for which you've enabled File History. By which I mean, if you have two PCs, both using File History to backup the same files in OneDrive, then you will have two different versions of File History backups, stored locally on two different PCs." He believes that Microsoft will put the File History function in OneDrive and not in Windows 10. We'll have to see how good Paul is at predicting the future.

05/31/2017

Android users have had the luxury of being able to add additional memory storage to their smartphones for a long, long time. The memory fits in to a slot or specialized carrier that tucks safely away into the phone. iPhone users are not as fortunate. There is no memory expansion slot on an iPhone, but you can use a microSD to Lightning Reader as a kludge alternative. Amazon now has the Samsung 256GB 95MB/s MicroSDXC EVO Select Memory Card with Adapter (MB-ME256DA/AM) on sale for $149.99, which is the lowest price of all time. Some of the key details for the microSD card include:

04/10/2017

Western Digital announced a new My Passport SSD that works with any computer including Apple's MacBook and MacBook Pro USB-C models. The drive comes in three capacities (256GB, 512GB and 1TB) for $99.99, $199.99 and $399.99 respectively. As an added bonus, the drive gives you AES 256-bit hardware encryption and has backup software too. The drive comes with an adapter that lets you use the drive with older computers equipped with USB-A ports.

03/13/2017

SEC Consult Vulnerability Lab issued an advisory disclosing serious vulnerabilities for the Western Digital My Cloud personal storage device. Graham Cluley summarized the advisory in a recent post. The recommendation is to disconnect the device from the network until fixes are available. Some of the vulnerabilities are pretty bad. As an example, the bad guys could use a cURL request to upload a malicious file to the device that could allow them to take control of the device. But wait, there's more. The firmware for Western Digital's My Cloud doesn't come with a mechanism designed to protect against cross-site request forgery attacks. This means that an attacker can pretty much do anything they want from the Internet.

Personal storage devices connected to the Internet can cause a world of hurt. It's convenient to just connect them to the Internet and have remote access to your data from the outside world. The problem with a large number of these devices is that they are consumer units with little concern for security. Besides, let's face it. Most people just leave them at default settings too, which makes the situation even worse.

02/06/2017

Specifically, you can restore Office files by using Version History if your local file gets encrypted by ransomware. There is still a little confusion about how Microsoft deals with non-Office files in One Drive. Paul Thurrott is trying to clarify exactly how Microsoft may protect you from ransomware infections. The latest Microsoft response stated "While Version History only works with Office files, OneDrive has the ability to restore both Office and non-Office files through the Recycle Bin if ransomware deleted the original file and re-uploaded it (often with a different name or file extension)."

That begs the obvious question. How do other syncing cloud storage providers (e.g. Dropbox, Google Drive, SpiderOak, etc.) deal with ransomware infections? The problem with cloud synching storage providers is that if your file gets encrypted locally, it may also send that encrypted file to the cloud and overwrite the good file that was already there. You want to make sure that you have the ability to restore from a prior version. Dropbox, Google Drive and Spider Oak all have the ability to restore prior versions of files, but does the file storage solution you use restore a prior version?

01/23/2017

BGRreports that Adata announced a 256GB microSDXC that is faster than some solid state disks from other manufacturers. "Spotted at CES 2017 by AnandTech, the 256GB microSD card in the following image can deliver write speeds of up to 260MB/s and read speeds of up to 275MB/s. The new card is based on 3D MLC NAND technology from SK Hynix, and it uses the UHS-II bus." The intention is for these types of cards to be used in smartphones, but they'll work in other devices like your Surface Pro 4 as well.

01/04/2017

Kingston just announced a new flash drive with a 2 TB capacity. In 2013, Kingston introduced the first 1 TB drive and now it is first with a 2 TB model. The new 1 TB and 2 TB versions of the Data Traveler Ultimate GT will offer USB 3.1 Gen 1 performance, which could theoretically allow 5Gbps transfer speeds. They have zinc-alloy metal casings, which reminds me of the indestructible IronKey flash drives. That shouldn't surprise anyone since Kingston now owns IronKey. Pricing has not been announced yet, but the betting money is that they will sell for over $1,000. Expect to see the devices ship in February.

10/20/2016

Seagate has announced a 2.5 inch 5 TB hard disk for $85. That's only $17 per terabyte. Is that crazy cheap or what? Seagate's new 5TB BarraCuda ST5000 hard drive is the largest 2.5-inch hard drive yet. Seagate also announced a new $55 7mm thick BarraCuda ST2000LM015, which is the typical size for laptops. Unfortunately, the drive is only 2 TB.

09/22/2016

So what does $12 buy these days? It's the entry point for a 32 GB USB 3.0 flash drive that works with your Android devices and PCs. That's a pretty good deal. Better yet, $18 will double the storage to 64 GB. So what do you get for under twenty bucks? Both versions include a standard USB 3.0 connector as well as a micro USB plug for your Android device. You can use an adapter if you have a USB-C port on your computer. According to the announcement, these are some of the details:

Store and transfer content between your Android devices and PC and stream content from the Drive quickly and easily.

No need for a cable, computer or wireless connection

USB 3.0 fast transfer speeds

Manage content with your device's file manager or a file manager app on Google Play

09/20/2016

No word on when the newly announced 1 TB SD card will be available or how much it will cost. Western Digital, SanDisk's parent company, showed a prototype of the 1 TB SD Card at the Photokina 2016 photography show. It was only a couple of years ago that the 512 GB SD card was released. I'm not sure how many people will rush out and buy the 1 TB version when it becomes available, especially since the 512 GB SD card costs $800. That should make the 1 TB SD Card somewhere around $1,500. At that cost, get a 256 GB SD card and copy your photos to your laptop or external USB hard disk for storage.

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Disclaimer

This blog is intended to impart general information and does not offer specific legal advice. Use of this blog does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you require legal advice, consult an attorney.